Mo. House Panel Won't Advance Nixon Impeachment

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - The chairman of the Missouri House panel considering the possible impeachment of Gov. Jay Nixon says the committee won't advance the measures to the House floor.

Republican Rep. Stanley Cox, of Sedalia, says there is evidence of "willful misconduct" by the Democratic governor, but not enough to warrant further impeachment proceedings.

The House Judiciary Committee conducted hearings this month on three separate Republican-sponsored resolutions. One cited Nixon's decision to allow some same-sex couples to file joint tax returns. Another criticized the governor for the amount of time he took to call special elections to fill legislative vacancies.

The final measure sought to impeach Nixon for his refusal to fire officials involved with a decision last year to scan driver's license applicants' personal documents into a computer system.